In the wake of a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, Marc-André ter Stegen spoke with the relief of a goalkeeper who has had to wait for his route back to the Germany side. After several months away, he returned between the posts for the national team and said the occasion carried particular weight after the difficulties of recent years.
“I felt good,” ter Stegen said. “I am proud of the road I have travelled, of everything I have given after what I have gone through in recent years. I am very happy to be back here.”
The match also marked Jürgen Klopp’s first outing as Germany coach. Ter Stegen felt the squad had established a platform despite having had only three days together under the new manager. There remains plenty to correct, he said, but Germany now have a foundation from which to build. Victory was close, in his view, with the Netherlands escape narrowing the difference to the finest margin.
For ter Stegen, the return does not soften his standards. “My aim is always to be number one, to be at 100 per cent and at the required level,” he said. “Today was a good moment to show that again.” He acknowledged that he still has adjustments to make as he learns Klopp’s methods.
His thoughts also travelled back to Barcelona, where the club are enjoying a strong spell under Hansi Flick. Although ter Stegen stressed that he is now focused on his present club, he said he continues to follow the Catalan side from afar.
“They are unstoppable at the moment,” he said. “That is what I wish for them, because they are working hard with Hansi as coach. From a distance, of course, I wish them the best. I am at another club and concentrating on my own work, but I still watch what they are doing and I am very happy that it is going so well for them.”
